Variable slot for presser foot hemmers



NOV. 29, 1949 WERTZ VARIABLE SLOT FOR PRESSER FOOT ,HEMMERS Filed May12, 1947 JAMES E. M272.

Extented No 2 9, 1949 5? James E. Wertz, Charlotte, N. 0., assignor ofone half to R. W. Eldridge Company,

Charlotte,

N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application May 12. 1947;SerialNo. 747,451

This invention relates to an improved presser foot or hemmer for asewing machine. When a sewing machine is equipped with a hemmer forforming a hem along one edge of a fabric, it is quite evident that whenthe hem is finished that it has three times the thickness of the fabric,and therefore, the lower-surface of the hemmer rearwardly of the pointwhere the line of stitches is being formed has heretofore been groovedor cut away to allow for passage of the hem and yet allowing the bottomof the presser foot to engage the fabric. It is also well known thatwhere the groove is out too deeply to accommodate hems made from thickfabric that it will not provide a neat looking hem on thin fabric asWhere there is a snug fit of the finished hem in the groove extendingrearwardly from the point where the line of stitches has been formed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a hemmerpresser foot for sewing machines, a vertically disposed groove of manytimes the necessary depth and having a vertically adjustable membermounted in the groove so that the height of the lower surface of thisvertically adjustable member can be quickly regulated to suit variousthicknesses of fabric which are being hemmed.

Some or the objects of the invention havinfl been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of ahemmer with my invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved hemmer associated with thepresser foot bar and needle bar of a sewing machine;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line 3-3in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the improved hemmer and needle bar andpresser bar associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 ofFigure 2.

An ordinary sewing machine has a suitable head not shown in which ismounted a vertically movable spring-pressed presser bar reciprocatingneedle bar I I equipped with a needle [2 which can be replaced asdesired by loosening a thumb screw [3. The hemmer is slotted as at M tofit on opposed sides and against the front edge of the lower end of thepresser bar I and a suitable thumb screw I is threadably secured l0 anda vertically 2 Claims. (Cl. 112-235) in a suitable tapped hole in thelower front portion of the presser bar In and thus the presser foothemmer indicated broadly at l B can be removably mounted on the presserbar l0. 7 The presser foot hemmer It has a lower flat surface ll adaptedto' press against the cloth. It is slotted as at' 18 and has a. suitabletongue IQ for turning. a hem as a fabric is fed through the machine."The fabric, by means" of the hem mer I6 and a feed dog 20, is fedrearwardly of the machine as the line of stitches is being formed by theneedle [2.

Immediately rearwardly of the slot l8 and the hemmer tongue I9 is avertically disposed and longitudinally extending slot 2i through whichthe hem formed by the line of stitches passes. A piece of fabric isindicated at 22 and the hem is indicated at 23, and it is therefore seenthat the hem is of three thicknesses of the fabric.

In order for the hem to be smoothed by the presser foot hemmer it, it isnecessary that the slot be of proper depth. This is accomplished bymounting a vertically slidable member 24 in the slot 2|. A suitable setscrew 21 threadably penetrates one side of the hemmer l6, and is adaptedto be driven home to hold the member 24 in proper elevated position. Theupper portion of the presser foot l6 has threadably mounted therein ascrew 26 which can be adjusted vertically before the screw 21 isadjusted to bind the member 24 in adjusted position. When the screw 26has been adjusted and the member 24 pressed upwardly against it to formthe proper groove 30 immediately below the lower edge of the member 24,then the screw 21 can be driven home to engage one side of the member 24to bind it in position.

It is thus seen that I have provided a hemmer for a sewing machinehaving means for adjusting the vertical depth of the groove disposedrearwardly of the point where the line of stitches is formed so that thegroove can be Of the proper height to neatly press the hem after it hasbeen formed and thus present a neat appearance to the finished work.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A hemmer having means for detachably securing the same to the presserbar of a sewing machine and having means for forming a hem and having ahole adapted to be pierced by a needle to form a line of stitches tothus complete the hem, the hemmer having immediately rearwardly of theneedle hole a vertically disposed and longitudinally extending groovehaving its lower end open and a vertically adjustable plate memberdisposed on its edge and slidably mounted in the groove and means foradjusting the plate member vertically relative to the lower edge of thehemmer to thereby form a groove in the lower-'- edge of the hemmer ofthe proper vertical height to suit the thickness of fabric beingprocessed in the machine, the means for adjusting the late membervertically comprising a vertically disposed screw in the hemmer forengaging the top edge of the plate and a screw disposed transversely inone side of the hemmer for engaging one side of the plate and pressingits other side against one of the sidewalls of the groove to hold theplate in vertically and longitudinally adjusted position in the groove.

2. In a sewing machine having a vertically re-w ciprocable presser barand a vertically reciprocating needle for forming a line of stitches ina piece of fabric, a hemmer detaohably secured to the lower end of theDresser bar and having means for turning one edge of a fabric to form ahem prior to the time it pierced by the needle to form a line ofstitches to bind the hem together, said presser foot having a verticallydisposed groove of substantial height extending upwardly from the bottomof the hemmer rearwardly of the point where the needle penetrates thehemmer, a plate member slidably mounted in the groove and means foradjusting the vertical height of the lower edge of the plate memberrelative to the lower edge of the hemmer to thereby form a groove of thedesired vertical height in the lower edge of the hemmer, said adjustingmeans comprising a screw penetrating one side of the hemmer and engagingone side of the plate and a second screw mounted in the top of thehemmer and extending downwardly into the top of the groove for engagingthe top edge of the plate. JAMES E. WERTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

STATES PATENTS

